Who stacks rocks in local creeks?

Sunday

Apr 22, 2007 at 2:00 AM

hat began as a response to a flood in the Bear Creek basin a decade ago remains one of the Rogue Valley's spontaneous displays of public art.

Rock-stacking — the act of taking rocks from the creek and stacking them in varying styles and formations — is a common form of expression viewed regularly along the gravel bars of Bear Creek in Talent and throughout Ashland Creek in Lithia Park.

"It's like a sculpture, and everyone has their own take on it," says Jesse Biesanz, a Talent stone mason who has been a regular contributor to Bear Creek's stacks since shortly after the New Year's Day flood of 1997. "Different people have different styles."

Dozens of the piles dot open areas along the two creeks. Others have sprouted on Mount Ashland hiking trails.

Many come from the hands of Biesanz, 39, who believes the concentration it takes to turn rocks into stones — "a rock becomes a stone once it's been handled," he says — is therapeutic.